The Complete Macrobiotic Diet

January 1, 2015

It isn't about perfection in this accessible guide to the macrobiotic diet by natural health writer/teacher Waxman (The Macrobiotic Path to Total Health), who advises readers to start with simple steps in the right direction with the general guideline that adding healthy choices to your life is a better initial step than taking away unhealthy foods or habits. Therefore, the author advises selecting "grains that satisfy and nourish you....[t]hen choose vegetable dishes and other food." The next step is to implement exercise little by little. Readers who have been interested in the macrobiotic diet but been intimidated may find this book a balanced and often common-sense guide. Many of the recommendations will not be new to those trying to be healthier (i.e., be physically active every day; eat balanced meals) while others are unusual (e.g., wear pure cotton clothing; give yourself a daily body rub). However, there are no references for those who wish to verify the advice and science-minded readers are unlikely to be convinced. VERDICT This repackage and expansion of the concepts in Waxman's 2007 The Great Life Diet will be repetitious to those who are already familiar with the author's titles, but those who are new to the macrobiotic diet will appreciate this new volume.--Mindy Rhiger, Minneapolis

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.